The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-12-22

opsni Shall svw lbrsss ths thrill q uttss
happlns0 sxpEisnced = / oassd upon thai
tstef II W. Nt By Tiny cans Of gfso6e, hung
nom ths branches, In sash Of which hoatcd
. burning sycamore ball; and was fhirly
laden with homs-wrousht gifts. Captain
Moore had sxercised his ingenuity In the
carving Of several little jointed wooden dolls
with hickofy-nut hsads, some with hair
made with black woolly furniture stufins
and fAcss stained black, which wsfe dressed
"a DsssA, while Others had hsmpsn hair
of untwirled rope, and were dressed In swad-
ding clothes TO represent infant dolls.
There were little feather chairs In
every imaginable style . light, pretty
and fragile - II made for fairy's
throne. There were homemade jumping
jacks Of wondrous agility, stained red and
blue with pokeberry and wild indigo. There
were killed Rob Roys, who, when the first
two fingers Of the right hand were inserted
into their dangling boots, and then Get danc-
ing, looked for all the world like veritable
barekneed Highlanders. There were little
barken-backed wallpaper books, beautifully
illuStrated by Mrs. Van Dorm. There were
knit stockings from Nanny, and three little
pairs Of bombaxine CATERS made for her
three nieces by Aunt Lorraine. And. oh,
joyi marked "For Jeanie' there was the
loveliest and largest rag-doll my childish
eyes had ever beheld, the artistic work Of
my dear invalid mother. There were also
chestnuts, chinquapins oranges, and candy
made Of honey for the little ones. Nor were
the older people forgotten. Capt. Moore was
y 49, l~v{~
knit for him BY the ladies. and hs also 10
ceived . linen handkerchisf made ffom
some treasured ante-waf materials, hem
stitched and embroidered by Aunt Lorraine,
a. well as pair of embroidered suspenders
from Miss Allie Tyrrsll.
Miss Allie and Aunt Lorraine received each
feather fan, the exquisite workmanship Of
Mrs. Van Dorm, Aunt Lnraines present to
whom was . palmetto hat, which she her
self had braided, dyed brown with tan bark
of black walnut and trimmed with bands Of
brown chicken feathers. Captain Moore's
gifts to the ladies were rings carved from
black buttons and inlaid with silver and
pearl, which he had made during the lonely
hours Of an imprisonment on Johnson's
Island, the silver having been obtained from
coin, and the pearl from mussel shell found
on the beach. Aunt Lorraine had embroid-
cred for my mother beautiful set of collar
and cuffs made from the same treasured bit
of linen as the captains handkerchief. And
Nanny had been remembered by her in
two snowy white linen aprons, the flax Of
which Aunt Lorraine had cultivated, spun
and woven herself. Her gift 10 Miss Allie
was crochet lace made from the same linen
thread. During many months her fingers
had been busily occupied with remem-
brances for this Christmas season, and why
her courage and interest had failed at the
last Nanny and I, who loved her 30 WELL
alone could divine.
But six O'Clock quickly came and dinner
was announced. During its course we were
again startled by report Of the advance Of
the enemy, but as We had a trusty servant
stationed near the principal road leading to
the village. and he had given us no warning,
our fears were soon allayed. At seven quite
large audience had collected in the front par
lor to witness the amateur entertainment,
which soon after began to glide smoothly
forward.
While Mrs. Van Dorm was playing solo
slipped quickly into the hall where, in a cor
mel, ,Isaw Nanny and Aunt Lorraine standing.
"You 10 to be de bride, Miss Lorraine"
Nanny was saying with decision as Joined
her; "dat po' sick infidel, Miss Fidelia needs
you upstairs, an you is to go up dar an stay
as long as you kin, which will be ontwel
de orange blossom ack; but will call
- l.